Looking for the best trails around Portsmouth?

Explore the best rated trails in Portsmouth, VA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Salem Road Trail and General Booth Boulevard Trail . With more than 30 trails covering 180 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

Recent Trail Reviews

Virginia Capital Trail

Just finished 4 days biking on trails here!! Beautiful scenery, mostly quiet trails.. a few seniors enjoying Virginia!!Karen from Canada

September, 2024 by khaveman6

Just finished 4 days biking on trails here!! Beautiful scenery, mostly quiet trails.. a few seniors enjoying Virginia!!Karen from Canada

Little Neck Road Trail

sidewalk trail

July, 2024 by aldo_desalvo

basically a sidewalk trail but the path is shaded and much safer than the road

Virginia Capital Trail

VA Capital Trail

July, 2024 by zap26

I rode the Virginia Capital Trail from Richmond, VA to Jamestown, VA over to Williamsburg, VA to stay the night and back to Richmond. I did it on my Trek Dual Sport + (E-bike) on the lowest assistance (1% assist). First I was really impressed I got over 60 miles on the charge with the extra battery so I made it both ways with an overnight charge.
The trail was nice with some rolling hills, nothing unbearable to climb. However the heat was bad. Yesterday the heat index was 110 degrees. I did have plenty of water and gatorade with me. On Monday the heat index, I think, was around 105 degrees. Majority of the trail is not shaded! And if you are looking for a bench to take a break, well most of the benches (not that there is a lot to choose from) are in the sun. There are places to stop along the way to replenish drinks but there is also about a 15 mile run where there really isn't any convenient place to get food or water. The cool thing with this ride is the American history and history markers along the route. There are many plantations along the way that you can stop. I didn't read most of the markers or stop at any plantations. Once I got to Jamestown I did stop at the visitors center for food and more water before heading to Williamsburg. I found out that part of the Colonial Parkway was closed which sucked since I had to take a little detour through Colonial Williamsburg in order to get to my hotel. This added about 3 extra miles in the heat.
On the way back it was brutal in the heat. On top of the heat I had 9 mph SW winds which meant I was riding into the wind. 9 mph isn't much but on a bike you feel it. It only took me 4 hours to ride from Richmond to Jamestown but 6 hours back. I did enjoy the ride to Jamestown from Richmond better than coming back but I think that was also because of the wind. I really loved the downhill as I got closer to Richmond.
Overall I am really glad I did the trail but I don't need to do it again. There are many other trails I want to do; I am really glad I did this one at least once. I feel very accomplished. This was my longest ride I have done as an overnight trip.

Accordion

Virginia Capital Trail

Great!

May, 2024 by ken.criss

We only had one day to ride so rode from the Herring Creek trailhead to Jamestown and then back. We found the trail to be what most have stated previously. Signage was great, the asphalt trail was in great shape and it was not very crowded (we rode on Thursday). As other have stated there are not many facilities so pack food and water. Yes, there were some hills on that section but nothing crazy in our opinion. We gave it an "A". Would have been A+ if there had been even some port-a-johns here and there.

Virginia Capital Trail

Our future in the VA Railroad Museum

April, 2024 by khan40

As stated in the last review, you cannot enter any circumstances ride the Amtrak train back to Richmond from Williamsburg with E bikes! While indeed, my wife and I managed to do that we will clearly be the last people to ever be allowed to do so. To say that it was a nightmare is a huge understatement. We expect to be inducted into the Virginia railroad museum Hall of Fame in the future as the only couple to ever ride the Virginia Trail and return with E bikes on a train. Of this, we are very proud and glad to be trendsetter such as those that sat down at the sit in the 60s in the 70s for equal rights.

Virginia Capital Trail

A beautiful ride with some important information

April, 2024 by khan40

We rode from Richmond to Williamsburg on our bikes on April 15. The first 30 or so miles to Charles city were some of the smoothest surfaces I’ve ever seen! We stated a wonderful bed-and-breakfast called the grace field inn bed-and-breakfast. Our host fed us dinner as well as the traditional breakfast both of which were excellent. Larry and Patricia were both thoroughly enjoyable and it was fascinating to talk with Larry about his extensive knowledge of colonial architecture and Williamburg itself. There was a highlight of our trip the next day we rode the slightly bumpier but still wonderful and possibly prettier ride into Jamestown where the trail ends. From there it’s a bit of a navigation Chore to find your way to Williamsburg without getting on a highway for much of the route. We managed to only have to ride one and a half miles of Highway riding without a bike trail. Important note!! Under no circumstances no matter what you read no matter what Amtrak tells you no matter if you even call customer service and talk to them ahead of time, can you possibly will you ever be able to take your E bike on the Amtrak train back to Richmond.

Cape Henry Trail

Good trail, but it needs better signage

March, 2024 by born2bchilanga

The trail itself was great for our hybrid-tire bikes, and a good length. The problem is that it’s crowded with walkers, dog walkers, and joggers, many of whom don’t know how to behave on a shared-use trail. There is not a single sign about trail etiquette anywhere.

Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail

Perfect place to practice longboarding/skating

February, 2024 by drew.jones10

I went on a Wednesday around 1:00pm so there was no one there. The trail is perfectly paved and plenty wide.

Virginia Capital Trail

Virginia capital trial

October, 2023 by aldo_desalvo

I give it 5 stars because it is over the whole way. I rode Williamsburg to Richmond. There are very little roots coming through the pavement which is a positive Shaded for the first 30 plus miles. Plenty of parking in Williamsburg and Richmond. I missed one turn. One nice rest stop about 10 miles from Richmond I live in Chesapeake Virginia and this was very hilly for me. Constant up and down. The negatives are the lack of benches to sit. I counted 3 of them for about 40 plus miles. There was also a lack of stores. Bring you own hydration. The

Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail

The trail path is paved. This would be a good trail for training to do longer trails on a road bike. It is a safe, clean, and beautiful trail through nature. The trail is approximately 3.5 miles from end to end per my "igsport IGS360" bike computer.

October, 2023 by jack7pctama

The trail path is paved. This would be a good trail for training to do longer trails on a road bike. It is a safe, clean, and beautiful trail through nature. The trail is approximately 3.5 miles from end to end per my "igsport IGS360" bike computer.

Southern Tip Bike & Hike Trail

We had a really nice ride...had the trail to ourselves (on a Thursday). We parked at the Welcome center and rode from there. Enjoy!!

October, 2023 by onlineorders.jamie

We had a really nice ride...had the trail to ourselves (on a Thursday). We parked at the Welcome center and rode from there. Enjoy!!

Lynnhaven Parkway Trail

this is just a sidewalk

September, 2023 by laurie.ohlstein

There’s no trail, the crosswalk infrastructure is minimal and the buttons to cross don’t work

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